Getting from Zakynthos to Kalamata

If you are heading to Kalamata from Zakynthos you are making your way from one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands to the capital of Messenia in the southern Peloponnese, relatively close in geographic terms given both sit on the western side of Greece. It has a renovated waterfront, good food and easy access to the Mani peninsula and the Byzantine ruins of Mystras.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Zakynthos to Kalamata. Getting there means taking the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini, which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and runs frequently, and then driving south through the Peloponnese to Kalamata, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours from Kyllini via Patras and Pyrgos. This avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural road connection between the two given their shared position on the western side of Greece.

Getting there by air

Kalamata has an international airport with connections from Athens. Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Zakynthos to Athens and then Athens to Kalamata takes around 55 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and drive south through the Peloponnese to Kalamata. At around 3 to 3.5 hours total it avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct and natural approach. Having a car makes this one of the easiest connections from Zakynthos given the geographic proximity of the two within western Greece. If you prefer to fly, take the flight from Zakynthos to Athens and then fly to Kalamata.